The Presidency on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari would not stop the prosecution of anybody indicted in the report of the Nigeria Police on the forgery of the Senate Standing Order.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this on Sunday in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja.

Shehu said Buhari believed in the rule of law and would not do anything that would derail any judicial process, stressing that those who were constitutionally saddled with the process did not need the President’s clearance to do their job.

He said, “They do not need the President’s clearance to prosecute anybody found guilty of any investigation. President Muhammadu Buhari, as all Nigerians know, believes very strongly in the rule of law.

“The President will therefore not do anything that will stop the judicial process. He won’t stop it (the trial of suspects in the Senate forgery case).”

There were reports on Sunday that the police investigation had confirmed that the Senate standing order was forged and that the police had recommended that some staff of the National Assembly should be prosecuted.


The police had invited the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and some other National Assembly officials over a petition alleging that the Senate standing rules were tampered with in the conduct of the election of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Ekweremadu and other principal officers on June 9.

Though the Director (Information), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Charles Nwodo, could not confirm to The PUNCH if the report had been submitted to the ministry for prosecution to begin, some lawyers on Sunday said the alleged offence was criminal and that culprits would be made to face the wrath of the law.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, said considering the enormity of the alleged crime, government should go ahead to take the appropriate action on the report regardless of any political interpretation given to it.

Ogunye said, “The release of the report vindicates the widely held view that what took place in the National Assembly towards June 9 and in particular the election in the Senate on that day following the proclamation of the National Assembly was a sham.

“This report tells us that a lot of ugliness is going on in our public life. Because we are not talking about Students’ Union parliament or a private document, we are talking about the National Assembly of Nigeria.

“So if the bureaucracy of the National Assembly can be enmeshed in lawmaking forgery, the implication of that is that Nigeria is a nation of forgers. That would then mean that these people can also forge laws.

“With the report, the law should take its course whether you are a clerk of the National Assembly or a senator of the National Assembly.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Norrison Quakers, said, “First of all, it is a criminal offence. And the law has to take its course. The penalty is a fine and a term of imprisonment; either or both. Any lawmaker who is involved in the forgery allegation, that has now been substantiated that indeed the document was forged, will have to answer criminal allegations and face prosecution.

“What the law prescribes as penalty for the offence of forgery is a minimum of four years imprisonment; it is about four or more.”

Another Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, said, “First of all, I want to believe that no lawmaker would be involved in such a shameful act; but if it is proven that any lawmaker is involved, it is a criminal offence.

“Depending on the legislation under which they are arraigned, there is an element of forgery scattered in all our legislations. We have forgery under the EFCC Act; we have forgery under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act; we have forgery under the Criminal Code. It (the punishment) depends on the enabling legislation under which they are charged.”

Meanwhile, some anti – Saraki senators, who spoke with The PUNCH on Sunday, asked the senate president and his deputy to step aside since the police investigation had established that the senate rules used for their election had been forged.

Senator Kabir Marafa, spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, a group of Senators loyal to Senator Ahmad Lawal, the APC’s choice for the senate presidency outwitted by Saraki, expressed satisfaction at the report.

“I have not seen a copy of the report and I don’t know the details but if a case of forgery has been established as being claimed in the media, I think the ideal thing is for the presiding officers who benefitted from the illegal amendments to resign their positions,” Marafa said.

Marafa, an APC Senator from Zamfara Central, asked both the police and the justice ministry to do the right thing by taking necessary steps to ensure justice.

“On our part, we are resuming on Tuesday and our demand on the floor of the Senate is that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, must ensure that the chamber is run according to its rules,” he said.

But the Senate President challenged the Senators calling for his resignation to articulate their position on the floor of the Senate instead of resorting to media propaganda.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said, “I am not going to respond to speculations based on a report which the police has not confirmed or which no one had seen a copy; so I don’t think it will be proper for me to react to what does not exist.

“As for those calling on the presiding officers to resign, why are they making their call on the pages of newspapers? They should go to the floor of the Senate to articulate their views. There is no point drawing unnecessary public attention to issues that can be treated in-house”

A Peoples Democratic Party senator from Ekiti South, Abiodun Olujimi, said the issue would be discussed on the floor on Tuesday with a view to condemning a situation whereby “some people would be externalising the affairs of the chamber”

“We will definitely study the report and debate it dispassionately to look at the issues involved but we are going to condemn the idea whereby some people, by their action, would be threatening the legislative immunity by involving outsiders in the internal affairs of the chamber, “ she said.

Attempts to speak with the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, over the development were unsuccessful on Sunday as calls to his mobile phone did not connect while text messages also sent did not deliver.

Sources in Abuja on Sunday indicated that Senators were billed for a showdown when they resume on Tuesday (tomorrow)as rival factions were poised to take on each other over the police report alleging forgery in the Senate standing order.

The PUNCH reliably learnt that the pro-Lawan group were considering two options, including a call on Saraki and his deputy, Ekweremadu, to resign.

It was also learnt that the group was planning to obtain the report and submit it to a Federal High Court that is already hearing a suit on the matter in Abuja.

Senators Barnabas Gemade; Abu Ibrahim, Lawan, Geore Akume, Kabir Marafa, Sulaiman Hunkuyi and Gbenga Ashafa had asked the court to declare the inauguration of the 8th Senate as strange and irregular.

They are also asking the court to declare the Senate Standing Orders 2015 used for Saraki and Ekweremadu’s elections as inoperative, null and lack of legislative process.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/senate-rule-forgery-buhari-wont-stop-trial-of-suspects-presidency/

Ride on baba.we dey ur back lyk hunchback

Who's now in trouble?saraki,ekweremadu or clerk of the house. Most def the law must catch up with one or more. Game on!

..

Funny bunch. If there are distinct senate rules every 4 years, how can you use the 2011 rule to establish forgery in 2015? Get the standing rule, then establish your case

Hmm! Confusion everywhere. Which way Naija?

Since there is no.police report on forgery of Senate rules, apc senators should be thrown in jail for forging police report!

Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

chukwudi44:
Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

pls show me a source wia d police denied d report,or which tv channels was it reported,or can i get it on d police website?

Saraki, u started the tune,now we are ready to dance to it. I think u have bitten more than u can chew dis time around, the soul of all deprived kwarans will see to the end of ur political career. GAME ON

Presidency playing safe since may 29

chukwudi44:
Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

This is naija jare,definitely no smoke without fire

oshorlabyC:
Saraki, u started the tune,now we are ready to dance to it. I think u have bitten more than u can chew dis time around, the soul of all deprived kwarans will see to the end of ur political career. GAME ON

Loser Saraki's senate presidency is here to stay.Come tomorrow Senators Marafa and Hunkuyi would be suspended from the senate

chukwudi44:
Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

jagaban is your problem i guess. What concerns you with what is going on in Nigeria?

We are solidly behind you PMB. Ride on.

I belong to everybody but I belong to nobody ~PMB
Buhari has said even APC members will not be shielded/protected from prosecution. How much more a parasitic pdp fraud-star who fraudulently became the Deputy Senate President.
The only condition is due process should be done.

,

chukwudi44:
Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

What is your problem with Tinubu? If you can't impregnate your wife, I know you will blame Tinubu. Haha, cut the man some slack abeg.

Aja to ma sonu ko ni gbo fere olode. The perpetrators of this illegal act should be brought to book

The Saraki group is smarter than all this propaganda on pages of newspapers by the Lawan group. The matter is already court but the frustrations and desperation of the Lawan group seem to want to make them pre-empt the court.
Apc shall know no peace in all the days of reign!

mtchewwwww

Good one..

chukwudi44:
Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

In your retarded and warped imagination. Incorrigible haters are ashamed. They even tell lies without shame. Which police denied the report ? The criminal Biafra police ?

chukwudi44:
Shameless journalism by the PUNCH newspapers!!! The police have even denied the report. Tinubu and his SW media are becoming too desperate

Even their story from yesterday,the Police spokesperson clearly stated that they're still investigating,yet PUNCH and Nation published that nonsense citing unnamed presidency source as their authority.The FPRO has come out again to deny such report exist.
Yellow journalism at it worst,or should I say brown-envelope journalism.

chukwudi44:


Loser Saraki's senate presidency is here to stay.Come tomorrow Senators Marafa and Hunkuyi would be suspended from the senate

What concerns Emmanuel Ojukwu and Chukwudi44 with nigeria's affairs ? Pack well to your bearfuror. Fifth columnists.

senbash:
Who's now in trouble?saraki,ekweremadu or clerk of the house. Most def the law must catch up with one or more. Game on!

three of them will be in trouble

A Peoples Democratic Party senator from Ekiti South, Abiodun Olujimi, said the issue would be discussed on the floor on Tuesday with a view to condemning a situation whereby “some people would be externalising the affairs of the chamber”

“We will definitely study the report and debate it dispassionately to look at the issues involved but we are going to condemn the idea whereby some people, by their action, would be threatening the legislative immunity by involving outsiders in the internal affairs of the chamber, “ she said

Mrs. Abidun Olujimi there is nothing like legislative immunity in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

For instance Saraki can be investigated, prosecuted and sent to jail if found guilty of any offense in a court.

PMP and loyal APC Senators need to be firmer and more resolute.

Saraki's has been using banditry to match forward and the loyal APC Senators are allowing him to lord his 'forged rules' over them.

Wake-up and treat him like a bandit he is.

Stay back in the chamber and 'give-him-hell'.

He would overrule you, use his 'forged rules', and you want to sit down their clasping your hands. If he becomes too difficult put your own man on his seat, push him off and start effecting APC programmes.

Saraki traits are of PDP. For 16 years they have run this country aground - they will do anything to destroy Buhari-Led-APC and it is your duty to protect your you all laboured for.

PDP aim is nothing but to destroy PMB-Led-APC

Ghandi12:
PMP and loyal APC Senators need to be firmer and more resolute.

Saraki's has been using banditry to match forward and the loyal APC Senators are allowing him to lord his 'forged rules' over them.

Wake-up and treat him like a bandit he is.

Stay back in the chamber and 'give-him-hell'.

He would overrule you, use his 'forged rules', and you want to sit down their clasping your hands. If he becomes too difficult put your own man on his seat, push him off and start effecting APC programmes.

Saraki traits are of PDP. For 16 years they have run this country aground - they will do anything to destroy Buhari-Led-APC and it is your duty to protect your you all laboured for.

PDP aim is nothing but to destroy PMB-Led-APC

AS LONG AS THE LIKE MIND SENATORS REMAIN UNITED,THERE S LITTLE OR NOTHING BUHARI OR THE APC CAN DO TO THEM.BUHARI NEEDS THEM MORE THAN THEY NEED BUHARI.DONT FORGET MINISTERIAL NOMINEES ARE YET TO BE SCREENED EXCEPT BUHARI PLANS TO RUN HIS GOVT WITH PERM SECS FOR FOUR YEARS